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- Grain Sickle, 1800-1840 - Sickles helped farmers harvest grain crops. Using this age-old tool, however, was backbreaking work. Laborers constantly had to stoop over to gather and cut the stalks. The work also had to be done quickly before ripen grains were scattered by the wind or poor weather destroyed the crop. The invention of mechanized reapers did away with this laborious task on large acre farms.

- 1800-1840
- Collections - Artifact
Grain Sickle, 1800-1840
Sickles helped farmers harvest grain crops. Using this age-old tool, however, was backbreaking work. Laborers constantly had to stoop over to gather and cut the stalks. The work also had to be done quickly before ripen grains were scattered by the wind or poor weather destroyed the crop. The invention of mechanized reapers did away with this laborious task on large acre farms.
- Edison Diamond Disc Record, "Gasoline Gus and His Jitney Bus" / "Aunt Dinah's Golden Wedding," 1915 - Jitneys were illegal taxis or buses that were not licensed to carry paying passengers. This humorous account of a Jitney driver was performed by Billy Murray, a popular recording artist in the early 20th century. About 1920, the Victor Company stated that, through his recordings, Murray's was likely the most familiar voice in the world!

- June 21, 1915
- Collections - Artifact
Edison Diamond Disc Record, "Gasoline Gus and His Jitney Bus" / "Aunt Dinah's Golden Wedding," 1915
Jitneys were illegal taxis or buses that were not licensed to carry paying passengers. This humorous account of a Jitney driver was performed by Billy Murray, a popular recording artist in the early 20th century. About 1920, the Victor Company stated that, through his recordings, Murray's was likely the most familiar voice in the world!
- Airship "Hindenburg" Disaster, Naval Air Station Lakehurst in Manchester Township, New Jersey, May 6, 1937 - The German airship <em>Hindenburg</em> was just minutes away from completing a transatlantic flight when it burst into flames at Lakehurst, New Jersey, on May 6, 1937. The fierce inferno, fueled by the airship's hydrogen lifting gas, claimed 36 lives. Debate continues about the fire's origin. Investigators considered everything from static electricity, to lightning, to deliberate sabotage.

- May 06, 1937
- Collections - Artifact
Airship "Hindenburg" Disaster, Naval Air Station Lakehurst in Manchester Township, New Jersey, May 6, 1937
The German airship Hindenburg was just minutes away from completing a transatlantic flight when it burst into flames at Lakehurst, New Jersey, on May 6, 1937. The fierce inferno, fueled by the airship's hydrogen lifting gas, claimed 36 lives. Debate continues about the fire's origin. Investigators considered everything from static electricity, to lightning, to deliberate sabotage.
- Edison Amberol Record, "Alexander's Ragtime Band," 1913 - This catchy 1911 tune capitalized on the popularity of ragtime music during the early 20th century. It was composer Irving Berlin's first big hit. The song was recorded by numerous artists over the years, including Billy Murray -- the most popular recording artist at the time. About 1920 the Victor Company stated that, through his recordings, Murray's was likely the most familiar voice in the world!

- 1913
- Collections - Artifact
Edison Amberol Record, "Alexander's Ragtime Band," 1913
This catchy 1911 tune capitalized on the popularity of ragtime music during the early 20th century. It was composer Irving Berlin's first big hit. The song was recorded by numerous artists over the years, including Billy Murray -- the most popular recording artist at the time. About 1920 the Victor Company stated that, through his recordings, Murray's was likely the most familiar voice in the world!
- Drawing, "Spring Shackle Bracket (Front & Rear)," Ford GPW, April 14, 1942 - The Ford Motor Company created over a million parts drawings from 1903 to 1957. Many of these drawings specify engineering requirements for the components of Ford-made vehicles--including automobiles, trucks, tractors, military vehicles and Tri-motor airplanes. Others document assembly components, stages of casting and forging, or experimental designs. Beginning in the 1940s, Ford transferred the drawings to microfilm.

- April 14, 1942
- Collections - Artifact
Drawing, "Spring Shackle Bracket (Front & Rear)," Ford GPW, April 14, 1942
The Ford Motor Company created over a million parts drawings from 1903 to 1957. Many of these drawings specify engineering requirements for the components of Ford-made vehicles--including automobiles, trucks, tractors, military vehicles and Tri-motor airplanes. Others document assembly components, stages of casting and forging, or experimental designs. Beginning in the 1940s, Ford transferred the drawings to microfilm.
- Edison Diamond Disc Record, "Jazzola" / "Frenchie Come to Yankee Land," 1919 - Jazz was new in the 1910s -- a musical sound different than anything before. Early jazz songs like this one attempted to explain what jazz was all about: "Nobody knows its origination. Jazzola. It's just a dance full of syncopation, and if you crave a new sensation..."

- April 03, 1919
- Collections - Artifact
Edison Diamond Disc Record, "Jazzola" / "Frenchie Come to Yankee Land," 1919
Jazz was new in the 1910s -- a musical sound different than anything before. Early jazz songs like this one attempted to explain what jazz was all about: "Nobody knows its origination. Jazzola. It's just a dance full of syncopation, and if you crave a new sensation..."
- Cycloidal Engine, circa 1805 - Inventors tried a variety of different designs for steam engines after James Watt's patents expired in 1800. The builders of this engine developed a clever system of gears to turn the engine's up and down motion into the rotary motion. The complex planetary or cycloidal gearing eliminated the great beam used by Watt and others, and produced a compact engine.

- circa 1805
- Collections - Artifact
Cycloidal Engine, circa 1805
Inventors tried a variety of different designs for steam engines after James Watt's patents expired in 1800. The builders of this engine developed a clever system of gears to turn the engine's up and down motion into the rotary motion. The complex planetary or cycloidal gearing eliminated the great beam used by Watt and others, and produced a compact engine.
- Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments Dream Book, 1999 - Hallmark introduced a line of Christmas ornaments in 1973. The company's yearly release of an increasing array of ornaments revolutionized Christmas decorating. Hallmark ornaments became so popular that the company began publishing annual catalogs (later known as "Dream Books") that showcased the new Keepsake Ornaments available for the upcoming holiday season.

- 1999
- Collections - Artifact
Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments Dream Book, 1999
Hallmark introduced a line of Christmas ornaments in 1973. The company's yearly release of an increasing array of ornaments revolutionized Christmas decorating. Hallmark ornaments became so popular that the company began publishing annual catalogs (later known as "Dream Books") that showcased the new Keepsake Ornaments available for the upcoming holiday season.
- Drawing, "Pedal Shaft Retainer Brkt," Ford GPW, February 12, 1942 - The Ford Motor Company created over a million parts drawings from 1903 to 1957. Many of these drawings specify engineering requirements for the components of Ford-made vehicles--including automobiles, trucks, tractors, military vehicles and Tri-motor airplanes. Others document assembly components, stages of casting and forging, or experimental designs. Beginning in the 1940s, Ford transferred the drawings to microfilm.

- February 12, 1942
- Collections - Artifact
Drawing, "Pedal Shaft Retainer Brkt," Ford GPW, February 12, 1942
The Ford Motor Company created over a million parts drawings from 1903 to 1957. Many of these drawings specify engineering requirements for the components of Ford-made vehicles--including automobiles, trucks, tractors, military vehicles and Tri-motor airplanes. Others document assembly components, stages of casting and forging, or experimental designs. Beginning in the 1940s, Ford transferred the drawings to microfilm.
- Drawing, "Spring Shackle Busing Retainer Front & Rear," Ford GPW, January 17, 1942 - The Ford Motor Company created over a million parts drawings from 1903 to 1957. Many of these drawings specify engineering requirements for the components of Ford-made vehicles--including automobiles, trucks, tractors, military vehicles and Tri-motor airplanes. Others document assembly components, stages of casting and forging, or experimental designs. Beginning in the 1940s, Ford transferred the drawings to microfilm.

- January 17, 1942
- Collections - Artifact
Drawing, "Spring Shackle Busing Retainer Front & Rear," Ford GPW, January 17, 1942
The Ford Motor Company created over a million parts drawings from 1903 to 1957. Many of these drawings specify engineering requirements for the components of Ford-made vehicles--including automobiles, trucks, tractors, military vehicles and Tri-motor airplanes. Others document assembly components, stages of casting and forging, or experimental designs. Beginning in the 1940s, Ford transferred the drawings to microfilm.